Lewis & Short

† pistris or pristis, is (also pistrix or pristix, ĭcis), f., = πίστρις, πρίστις.

  1. I. Lit., any sea-monster; a whale, shark, sawfish: postrema immani corpore pistrix (of Scylla), Verg. A. 3, 427: in Indico mari pristes ducenum cubitorum, Plin. 9, 3, 2, § 4: jamque agmine toto Pistris adest, Val. Fl. 2, 530: marina pistrix, Flor. 3, 5, 16.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. The constellation of the Whale: ad Pistricis terga, Cic. Arat. 152: Auster Pistrin agit, German. Arat. 358.
    2. B. A species of swift-sailing ship, Quadrig. ap. Non. 535, 26; Liv. 35, 26, 1.
      1. 2. Name of a ship in the fleet of Æneas, Verg. A. 5, 116.